What is a gambit?
A gambit describes a sacrifice of material (usually one or two pawns). For this loss of material there is a - usually non-material - compensation. The King's Gambit is a classic gambit: White sacrifices a pawn on the kingside: 1.e4 e5 2.f4 brings our topic (diagram above) to the board!
The concrete ideas behind the opening
The King's Gambit is intended to open the f-file. The goal is the weakest point in the black position, the f7-square. At the same time, the space in the centre that White gains through the gambit should be used by developing the pieces quickly. Black, on the other hand, endeavours to keep the captured material and defy the white development advantage. This fundamental duel, activity against material, is always fascinating in chess.
In the King's Gambit, this confrontation plays a role time and again. A classic example of this is the so-called Muzio Gambit, which arises after this sequence of moves:
1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 g5 4.Bc4 g4 5.0-0 gxf3 6.Qxf3 Qf6 7.e5 Qxe5 8.Bxf7+ Kxf7 9.d4 Qxd4+ 10.Be3
Feel free to analyse the position from the diagram position. Here you have the option of using an engine (click on the fan symbol) or activating the live book with the latest opening theory. You will realise that an engine can defend the black position quite safely. However, you will also find that the club player has much greater practical difficulties with the defence of the black position. If White is prepared to play with a slightly higher risk, this variation is suitable for you.
Another variation with an early knight sacrifice is the Allgaier Gambit, which arises after the moves
1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 g5 4.h4 g4 5.Ng5 h6 6.Nxf7 Kxf7:
The aim of the Allgaier Variation is to open lines and diagonals against the black king. Here, too, we can only recommend analysing the position yourself. You will probably come to the conclusion relatively quickly that the knight sacrifice is very speculative, and that White does not objectively receive sufficient compensation for the material disadvantage. In the end, the players of the 20th century also came to this realisation, without any computer support. And so the Kieseritzky Variation became the main variation for a long time, which arises after the moves
1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 g5 4.h4 g4 5.Ne5
and leads to many spicy variations. Although Black need not objectively shy away from such complications, they are certainly not to everyone's taste. Thus, over time, more serene ways of playing against the King's Gambit have been developed, e.g. 3...d5, the Modern Defence:
The idea of establishing the pawn chain h6-g5-f4 on the kingside is also a good black strategy. A typical variation is 3.Nf3 g5 4.Bc4 Bg7 5.d4 d6 6.h4 h6 7.c3 Nc6:
Of course, no power in the world can force Black to take the gambit pawn on f4 with the proud e-pawn. A popular idea to decline the king's gambit begins with 2...Bc5. Or Black turns the tables and risks the Falkbeer counter-gambit with 2...d5 3.exd5 e4.
Those who play the King's Gambit are usually looking for a fierce tactical battle, and must not shy away from sacrifices. Those who take it on should be well prepared and know what they are letting themselves in for.